E-3 Visa - Statistics

Statistics

Since the introduction of the E-3 visas, between 2000-3000 E3 visas have been issued by US consulates to Australian professionals every year; in addition to this, E3R visas are issued to the returning Australian professionals whose original visas had expired. The numbers are as follows: four new visa in Fiscal Year 2005; 1,918 new visas in FY 2006; 2,572 new and 6 returning in FY 2007; 2,961 new and 1,568 returning in FY 2008; and 2,191 new and 1,421 returning in FY 2009. In addition to this, 1,000 to 1,500 E3D visas are issued annually to these professionals' dependents. (Each US fiscal year starts and ends 3 months before the calendar year with the same number).

In U.S. Fiscal Year 2006 (October 2005 through September 2006), which was the first full year during which E-3 regulations were in effect, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recorded 2,123 admissions of Australian citizens as E-3 status foreign workers under the treaty. 9,294 admissions were recorded in U.S. Fiscal Year 2007 (October 2006 through September 2007).

Importantly, the number of admissions in a given fiscal year is different to the number of visas issued: an E-3 visa is a multiple-entry visa valid for 24 months, and every reentry of the visa holder into the USA (other than after short trips to the "near abroad", i.e. Canada or Mexico) during this time will generate a new admission record.